Gregarious Somersworth teacher retires after 15-year stretch: 'He just has one of those personalities you want to be around'

Monday

Jun 11, 2012 at 3:15 AMJun 11, 2012 at 12:26 PM

By ABBY KESSLERakessler@fosters.com

SOMERSWORTH — People gathered from all different connections to Steve MacKenzie's life on Sunday June 10, to offer him a bittersweet farewell as he announced his retirement from the Somersworth High School after a fifteen yearlong run.

"I really love my kids and my kids love me," MacKenzie, said. "I have the best job in the world, but it is time to move onto different things."

Plates of food filled the tables in his Somersworth home as people picked at the prepared plates. Each guest, whose life had been affected by MacKenzie, was greeted with a warm embrace as MacKenzie recollected past moments they had shared together.

Guests milled around the room and asked what the future held for MacKenzie.

MacKenzie has contributed to Foster's Daily Democrat, writing a column about his teaching experiences in Room 217 during his years as a teacher. His accounts emphasize writing with passion and during the moments when you feel emotion, "this is the time when you write best," he notes in one of the articles.

He also gives advice about accepting individuality, specifically to his senior students who are applying to college, but the anecdote extends further than the application process as he advises everyone to except their flaws.

Instead of publishing smaller clips he has plans for lengthy novels that will be infused with memories he has accumulated while working at the Somersworth School District. One of the first pieces he plans to tackle is based around a former student that he was remarkably close with and tragically died in a motor vehicle accident.

"That was one of the hardest moments I have ever had to go through," he said of the loss. "I really become close with these kids and form great relationship with them."

MacKenzie graduated from the University of New Hampshire with an English major. He notes he was remarkably lucky in finding a position in Somersworth as he happened to apply at just the right moment and did not hold an Education certificate. He grew to love the position as an educator and became a vital part of many young lives in the area.

"I bet there is not a single person in Somersworth High School that doesn't know him. He just has one of those personalities you want to be around." Deanna Gallant, a longtime family friend, said. "Even when we are in a different country, Steve will know somebody, it has sort of become a joke between us."

MacKenzie laughed, "Everybody has talent, mine just happens to be talking."

This by no means marks the end of MacKenzie's working career as he plans on returning to substitute teach both English and Spanish classes while he is not escaping the cold New England winters in the Dominican Republic.

"I am just retiring from full-time teaching. I will still be working and busy," he said.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.